What is the factored form of 3x2 plus 6x-24?

Answer 1

3x2 + 6x - 24

First factor out any common factors of the three terms. In this case, each term is a multiple of 3. So,

3x2 + 6x - 24 = 3(x2 + 2x - 8)

Next, use the reverse FOIL method to factor the polynomial in the parenthesis (x2 + 2x - 8). x2 factors out to x * x:

(x + ??)(x + ??)

Now, we must find two numbers that add to get 2 (from the 2x) and multiply to get -8. Those numbers are -2 and 4. So,

(x2 + 2x - 8) = (x - 2)(x + 4)

So,

3x2 + 6x - 24 = 3(x - 2)(x + 4)